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Nintendo Launches Super Mario 3-D Land in Times Square

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Nintendo brought Super Mario Bros. 3-D Land, its newest version of the Mario Bros. game, to life at Times Square last weekend. Children and adults alike played in Mushroomland, emerging from warp pipes and jumping on trampolines to “catch coins.” Mario Bros. fan Nelson Cabachi said he has been looking forward to the game’s release.

“Well I’m really into 3-D so I’m pretty excited that this game is going to accomplish that 3-D look that everyone wants,” Cabachi said. Cabachi also appreciates the old Super Nintendo game, which he plays on “Retro night” once a week.

Fans dressed in Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and villain costumes waited in a long line to get into Mushroomland as families waited in an even longer line to purchase the video game at Toys’R’Us before it was gone.

Matthew Becker, 9, was waiting in the Toys”R”Us line with his parents. He explained why he was excited about the release of Super Mario 3-D Land:

Death of a Postman

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Legislation to help the United States Postal Service overcome budget shortfalls was introduced to the Senate on Wednesday.

In an era of rapidly advancing technology, the post office remains a relic of a past generation. Today, communication often travels at the speed of light through the bevy of mobile devices available.

However, a staunch group of supporters still back the need for the post office in American life.

Below are four audio pieces taken from one-on-one interviews, street interviews, and sound bites courtesy of the USPS.

-John E. Potter, the Postmaster General, speaks about the need for change at the post office.
John E. Potter by kevinjreilly

-Steve Hutkins founded savethepostoffice.com in an effort to stop post office closings.

Steve Hutkins by kevinjreilly

-New Yorker’s express explain how often and when they use the post office.

New York’s Postal Opinions by kevinjreilly

-Sounds of typing. Email and other electronic communication has taken the place of the hand-written letter.

Ambient typing by kevinjreilly

New Theatre Company Breaks A Leg at The Red Room

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Scott Lakoff and Thomas J. Lombardo, graduates of the Professional Performing Arts School created their own theatre company, Look At The Fish, with a grant from Brooklyn College, donations from family members, and the mentality that they should make the most of the scant resources they have. The Theatre Company’s first play, “Seascape With Sharks and Dancer” includes many colleagues from their alma mater, acting, performing sound checks, set design, lighting design and fight scene choreography. The play was shown at The Red Room Theatre at 85 East 4th Street and Bowery in the East Village.

Carlos Garcia, a Professional Performing Arts School graduate, works on sound operation. He chose songs that he believed fit the time period the play takes place, in the 1970s.

The play, written by Don Nigro, is well suited for the small theatre company because the play requires only two actors. The set is spare. The stage is the living room of a decrepit beach house in Cape Cod. There is a couch, ragged blue curtain, a desk topped with a pile of books and typewriter and not much else. The play is about the couple’s issues with intimacy and vulnerability, mainly on the female character’s part, Tracy, who is determined to prove the world is full of “sharks” including her boyfriend, Ben.

The script’s sharp dialogue is well suited for the intimate theatre, which had four rows of seating in fold-up chairs. The theatre company states that it’s mission is to produce plays not appreciated by commercial theatre whether they are well known or not. This play happens to be well known in the theatre world, it has been reviewed by The New York Times and Don Nigro is listed on IMDB. Lombardo, the actor playing Ben, director and creator of the theatre company, pays Don Nigro $75 for every performance. The new theatre company also pays $3,600 to rent out the space alone.

Thomas J. Lombardo, who directs the play, acts the role of Ben, and manages the theatre company with Scott Lakoff, said it is a challenge to balance all of those roles. Lombardo hopes the company thrives as a community for actors to experiment and take a less rigid approach to setting production times.

Toni-Ann Gardiner, play the role of Tracy. She said she excited to execute the idea of the new theatre company and prepare for a role that demanded she be in character all the time.

Two members of the audience, Christina Pitton and Django Palty,thought the performance was authentic.